New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-03-02
A TREATY WITH TONGA.
SEEKING CONTROL OF THE PACIFIC TRADE
FULL TEXT OF THE TREATY RECENTLY NEGOTIATED
-Irs pRORARLE FATE.

FULL TEXT OF THE TREATY RECENTLY NEuoiiAin"
Its PROBABLE FATE.
fpr TELEGRAPH 10 The TRIBUNE
WASHINGTON. March LIN November last The
TRIBUNE was the first newspaper 10 announce tile
conclusion of treaty between this country ana
the Tongan Islands. The failure Of Mr.. Bayard to
make mention Of this implrtan step in scheme
to secure the control of the Pacific Ocean trade
in the Presidents annual message caused some
comment at the time. and many PEOPLE were led
to believe that the information obtained by The
TRrBrNE was incorrect. The full text which Is
given herewith shows that the information was
based upon Trustworthy sources, and that the
main features Of Mr.. Bayard's curious scheme
were correctly interpreted.
While Mr.. Bayard when he came into Office
recalled every commercial treaty negotiated by
his predecessor he was willing that the extension
OF the Hawaiian Treaty, which had been slgneu
by Mr. Frolinghuysen also, should be ratlhed py
the Senate. Therefore he did not withdraw IT,
but ON the contrary let no opportunity escape u
iupres upon Senators in private the Importance
NJ preserying the control Of the Pacific Ocean
trade to this country. When the late Consui
Greenebaum. by his conduct at Apia in the
Samoan Islands, came near preclpltatlng on inter
national difficulty, Mr. Bayard sent out spcclai
envoy Mr.. George III. Bates Of Delaware. To settle
ti,ne instructions to proceed upon the conclusion
~ his task at the Samoan Islands, to Tonga. ana
there NEGOTIATE commercial treaty with King
Ceoroe Mr. Bates proceeded to the islands In
the Mobican and it on board of this vesscl
| that the treaty was S, med October OF last
year. -,
| Precisely what Mr.. Bayard hopes to accomplish
by the conclusion of a treaty with 80 savage
race as the Tongans it is difficult TO see. Inc
products Of the soil there are meagre and CONSIST
for the most part Of tropical fruit. TN INC o'''o'
hand the inhabitants are 50 poor that ther iihPoif
from the United States must necessarily he snaii
The Tongan group, which Is BOO or ooV hilo'
southwest OF tho Samoan Islands. is one OF th'
few crouys in the Pacific Ocean when mas ho
vet been absorbed by any European power. Inert
has been strong desire mt times on the part q
No,y Zealand to annex these islands. but they
have had an independent gov ernmcnt, TIC lcaulh!
snirit Of which is Mr. Baker. Wesleyan mis-
.ionarv. who is called the Premier. md who als'
IS the sicnatory on the part of the Iongan Gov
erpment TO the present treaty. King George Is
an old MALAY, with snowy white hair and stronr
countenance. He is over eighty years old. lie
sncal,s no lancua.e except his native tongue
| hut he lives TO n certain extent according u
| European customs NulIualofa is the capital o
the proup. The Government has built fine
wharf with hou, B.. AID there Is regular 5! stem
Of communication with Auckland and Fill
The treaty has been referred to the COMMITTEE
on Forei,n Relations. which has not yet reported
upon Il ana is not likely 10 take any action ~
This session. The treaty and the letters which nc
comranied lis transmission To the Senate are giNcr
in fun below:
To he Senate Of the United SdteS.
Transmit herewith with view TO its ratification
treaty of amity commerce md navigation, conclmcd
October g 1886. in The harhor Of Nnkuaiofn Iong""pn
betwecn the United states OF America and the King OF
ronga Ial.o transmit for your information n report
from the secretary OF state. inclosing copies OF The
treaties OF friendship concluded between the Kingdom OF
| Tong, and Germany and Great Britain
| GROVER CtrvELASn
| Free,,,ire Mansion, Washington Feb. II. 1887